Markov’s a Canadian, Lightning strikes BriseBois

Defenceman Andrei Markov was sworn in as a Canadian citizen Friday morning along with 31 other new Canadians who spent 30 minutes aftrer the ceremony having their pictures taken with the veteran defenceman.

Team president Pierre Boivin and general manager Pierre Gauthier both attended the ceremony. Gauthier spoke briefly about Markov’s leadership qualities but stopped short of offering the defenceman a new contract – he has one year remaining on his current deal – or announcing that Markov would fill the vacanat captaincy.

On another note, the Hamilton Bulldogs suffered another loss when Julien BriseBois joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as assistant general manager. The 33-year-old lawyer was the Canadiens vice-president, hockey operations and also served as general manager of the Bulldogs. He served as Montreal’s capologist and will fill a similar role in Tampa.

Second. WTF are the upper guys at the Habs thinking. Letting all of the young succesfull talent run away. Geez we are going to be left with a whole bunch of has been and wanna be’s running the team.

That said, maybe that is what the problem was, we need new blood? Instead of years of forced mediocrity (although last years run was impressive) and crappy picks, maybe now we can either a) Reach for the Top (kudos to CBC ) b) Sink to the basement and keep our picks…

But not just a regular picture. One with him wearing a good’ol Canadian knitt x-mas sweatter, wearing one of those beaver hats with the tail on the back, his right hand in a hockey glove on top of whatever book they make you hold, and him holding a poutine with his left hand.

That would be one heck of a photo, especially knowing that Andrei looks a little like Mr. Bean.

It would be a major announcement, one that deserves and would demand a ton of interest. Friday’s, along with Saturdays, are the worst possible days to announce major moves like this. The story won’t get covered nearly as much as it would if it was announced between Sunday and Thursday.

Unless you’re announcing something you don’t want to be discussed alot (a firing, negative news, etc…) or you just don’t want the media going nuts about it, then the weekend is fine. But a major, positive move like this deserves weekday talk-show/media coverage.

Not sure if you remember but Dipietro played for the Habs in their 93 cup run, was a Canada citizen who moved to Switzerland to play hockey and married a Swiss woman, he then received a Swiss citizenship and played with the Swiss Olympic team and scored 2 goals against Canada when the Swiss upset Canada in 2006

Not sure if the Mozambique comment was a joke that went over my head, so forgive me if you already knew this :0)